1

Paul,

an apostle of Christ Jesus,

1:1

by the will of God

To the1:2

I. Paul affirms his pastoral love for the Colossian church (1:1-12)

1. Opening greeting (1:1-2) and

Timothy our brother,

saints

and

faithful brothers

in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you

and

peace from God our Father.

We always thank God,

since we heard

of your faith in Christ Jesus

and

of the love that you have for all the saints,

because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

Of this you have heard beforein the word of truth,

the gospel,

which has come to you,

as indeed

in the whole world

it is

bearing fruit

and

growing

1:3

1:4

1:5

1:6

the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,.

when we pray for you,

2. Paul affirms the authenticity of the Colossians' faith(1:3-8)

2

as it also does among you,

since the day you

heard it

and

understood the grace of God in truth,

just as you learned it from Epaphras

our beloved fellow servant.

is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf

and

has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

He

1:7

1:8

And so,

from the day we heard,

we have not ceased to pray for you,

asking that you may be filled

with the knowledge of His will spiritual wisdom

and

understanding,

in all

so as to walk

in a manner worthy of the Lord,

1:9

fully pleasing to Him,

bearing fruit in every good work

and

increasing in the knowledge of God.

1:10

A. To be filled with the knowledge of God's will so as to walk in holiness (1:9-10)

3. Paul prays for the Colossian church (1:9-12)

3

II. Paul's doxology and exaltation of the gospel(1:13-1:23)

May you be strengthened with all power,

according to His glorious might,

endurance

and

patience,

for all

with joy,

giving thanks to the Father,

who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

delivered us from the domain of darkness

and

transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

He has

in whom we haveredemption,

the forgiveness of sins.

the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation.He is

1:11

1:12

1:13

1:14

1:15

For by Him all things were created,

in heaven

and

on earth,

visible

and

invisible,

thrones

or

dominions

or

rulers

or

authorities –

whether

1:16

B. To be strengthened with all power for endurance and patience (1:11)

C. To give thanks to the Father (1:12)

1. Paul exalts the work of the Father (1:13-14)

2. Paul exalts thepreeminence of Christ(1:15-23)

A. The person of Christ (1:15-18)

1. Creator and Sovereign (1:16)

through Him

and

for Him.

all things were created

4

1:17 And

He is before all things,

and

in Him all things hold together.

And

He is headof the body,

the church.

1:18

He isthe beginning,

the firstborn from the dead,

that

in everything

He might be preeminent.

For

in Him all the fullness of God was pleased

to dwell,

and

through Him

to reconcile to Himself all things, on earth

or

in heaven,

whether

making peace by the blood of His cross.

1:191:20

2. Sustainer of all things (1:17)

3. Head of the church (1:18a)

4. Authority and preeminence declared (1:18b)

B. The work of Christ(1:19-23)

1. Reconciliation purchased (1:19-20)

5

And you

who once were

alientated

and

hostile in mind,

doing evil deeds,

He has now reconciled

in His body of flesh by His death,

in order to present you

holy

and

blameless

and

above reproach

before Him,

if indeed you continue in the faith,

not shifting from the hope of the gospel

stable

and

steadfast,

that you heard,

which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven

and

of which I,

Paul,became a minister.

1:21

1:22

1:23

2. Reconciliation applied (1:21-22)

3. Reconciliation verified (1:23)

6

Now

I rejoice in my sufferings

for your sake,

and

in my flesh

I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions

for the sake of

His body,

that is,

the church.

of which

I became a minister

according to the stewardship from God

that was given to me for you,

to make the word of God

the mystery,

fully known,

hidden for

ages

and

generations

but now

revealed to His saints.

God chose to make known

how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery

which isChrist in you,

the hope of glory.

To them

1:24

1:25

1:26

1:27

B. Paul is divinely charged with a stewardship to proclaim the mystery of Christ (1:25-27)The nature of this mystery:

A. Paul has died to self for the sake of the church (1:24)

1. Hidden but now revealed (1:26)

2. Inclusion of the Gentiles (1:27)

III. Paul establishes his pastoral authority among the Colossian church, and reveals his heartfelt burden on their behalf(1:24-2:5)

1. Paul's stewardship (1:24-28)

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Him we proclaim

warning everyone

and

teaching everyone with all wisdom

that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

For this I toil,

struggling with all His energy

that He powerfully works within me.

For

I want you to know

how great a struggle I have

for you

and

for those at Laodicea

and

for all who have not seen me face to face,

that their hearts may be encouraged,

being knit together in love,

to reach all the riches

of full assurance of understanding

and

the knowledge of God's mystery,

which is Christ,

in whom are hidden all the treasures of

wisdom

and

knowledge.

1:28

1:29

2:1

2:2

2:3

C. Paul is faithful to his stewardship, warning and teaching everyone that he might present everyone mature in Christ (1:28)(Paul's Mission Statement)

A. The affections of Paul's heart are riveted to his stewardship, as he toils to see the church possess all the riches of Christ (1:29-2:3)

2. Paul's heartfelt burden for the Colossians and others (1:29-2:5)

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I say this in order that no one may delude you

with plausible argument.

For though

I am absent in body,

yet

I am with you in spirit,

rejoicing to see

your good order

and

the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Therefore,

as you received Christ Jesus the Lord,

so

walk in Him,

rooted

and

built up

in Him

and

established in the faith,

just as you were taught,

abounding in thanksgiving.

2:4

2:5

2:6

2:7

See to it that no one takes you captive

philosophy

and

empty deceit,

by

according to human tradition,

according to the elemental spirit of the world,

and

not according to Christ.

2:8

IV.Paul declares his key message and subsequent call to action (2:6-4:6)

1. Paul declares his key message, exhorting the Colossians to walk in Christ (2:6-7)

2. Paul commands the Colossians not to submit themselves to the spiritual leadership of those who serve their own self-made religion and not the true gospel of Christ (2:8-19)

A. Purity of mind - Do not be taken captive by the deceitfulness of human precepts and teaching, but understand the reality of our profound identity in Christ (2:8-15)

B. Paul presents the purpose of his letter, warning the Colossians not to be deluded by worldly argument (2:4-5)

1. Paul's 1st command(2:8)

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For

in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

and

you have been filled in Him, all rule

and

authority.

who is the head of

2:9

2:10

In Him also you were circumcised

by putting off the body of the flesh,

by the circumcision of Christ,

with a circumcision made without hands,

having been buried with Him in baptism,

in which

you were also raised with Him

through faith in the powerful working of God,

who raised Him from the dead.

And you,

who were dead your trespasses

and

the circumcision of your flesh,

in

God made alive

together with Him,

having forgiven us all our trespasses

2:11

2:12

2:13

2. Paul's declaration of Christ's identity and our identity in Christ (2:9-10)

a. Spiritual circumcision (2:11)

3. Our identity in Christ described (2:11-15)

b. Buried and raised (2:12)

c. Dead but made alive (2:13)

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He

rulers

and

authorities

disarmed the

and

put them to open shame,

by triumphing over them in Him.Therefore

let no one pass judgement on you

in questions of food and drink,

or

with regard to

These are a shadow

of the things to come,

but

the substance belongs to Christ.

by cancelling the record of debt

that stood against us

with its legal demands.

This

He set aside,

nailing it to the cross.

a festival

or

a new moon

or

a Sabbath.

2:14

2:15

2:16

2:17

B. Purity of practice – Ignore the contempt of the religious elite, and do not let our practical walk be influenced by the requirements of self-made religion (2:16-19)

1. Paul's 2nd command and his indictment of the religious elite's spiritual blindness (2:16-17)

d. Debt cancelled (2:14)

e. Accusations disarmed (2:15)

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Let no one disqualify you

insisting on

asceticism

and

worship of angels,

insisting on

going on in detail about visions,

puffed up without reason

by his sensuous mind

and

not holding fast to the Head,

from whom the whole body,

nourished

and

knit together through its joints and ligaments

grows with a growth that is from God.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world,

why

as if you were still alive in the world

do you submit to regulations –

"Do no handle,

Do no taste,

Do no touch."

(referring to things that all perish as they are used) –

according to human precepts and teachings?

2:18

2:19

2:20

2:21

2:22

2. Paul's 3rd command and his indictment of the religious elite's self-deception(2:18-19)

3. Paul confronts the Colossians' submission to religiosity, condemning religiosity in all its impotence (2:20-23)

12

These have indeed an appearance of wisdom

in promoting

self-made religion

and

asceticism

and

severity to the body,

but

they are of no value

in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

2:23

If then you have been raised with Christ,

seek the things that are above,

where Christ is

seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds

on the things that are above

not

on things that are on earth.

For

you have died,

and

your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ

who is your life,

appears,

then

you also will appear with Him in glory.

3:1

3:2

3:3

3:4

4. Paul exhorts the Colossians that if they have been genuinely regenerated by the power of the gospel, they must live in the reality of their position in Christ, and thereby pursue radical, practical transformation in their lives (3:1-4:6)

A. In response to his indictment and condemnation of their submission to religiosity, Paul charges the Colossians to rivet their hearts and minds to Christ (3:1-4)

13

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:

sexual immorality,

impurity,

passion,

evil desire,

covetousness,

and

which is idolatry.

On account of these

the wrath of God is coming.

In these you too once walked,

when you were living in them.But now

you must put them all away:

anger,

wrath,

malice,

slander,

obscene talk from your mouth.

and

Do not lie to one another,

seeing that you have

put off the old self

with its evil practices

and have

put on the new self,

3:5

3:6

3:7

3:8

3:9

3:10

1. Man's natural condition (1st list) (3:5-7)

2. Man's natural condition (2nd list) (3:8-9)

C. Put on the new self (3:10-4:6)

B. Put off the old self (3:5-9)

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which is being renewed

in knowledge

after the image of its Creator.

Here there is not

Greek and Jew,

circumcised and uncircumcised,

barbarian,

Scythian,

free;

slave,

but

Christ is all and in all.

Put on then

as God's chosen ones,

holy and beloved,

compassion,

kindness,

humility,

meekness,

patience,

and

bearing with one another

and,

if anyone has a complaint against another,

forgiving each other;

as the Lord has forgiven you,

so you also must forgive.

3:11

3:12

3:13

b. United under the headship of Christ (3:11)

c. Chosen by God to be a body bound together in love (3:12-14)

a. Being renewed(3:10)

1. Exhortations to the local body (3:10-17)

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put on love,

which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

above all these things

And

let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

to which indeed you were called

in one body.

be thankful.

And

And

Let the word of God dwell in you richly,

teaching

and

admonishing one another

in all wisdom,

singing

psalms

and

hymns

and

spiritual songs,

with thankfulness

to God.

in your hearts

3:14

3:15

3:16

d. Called as one body to minister to each other in thanksgiving(3:15-17)

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do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

whatever you do,

And

in word or deed,

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

ROLE SPECIFIC EXHORTATIONS

Wives, submit to your husbands,

as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands

love your wives,

and

do not be harsh with them.

Children, obey your parents in everything,

for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers, do not provoke your children,

lest they become discouraged.

Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,

not by way of eye-service,

as people-pleasers,

but

with sincerity of heart,

fearing the Lord.

3:17

3:18

3:19

3:20

3:21

3:22

2. Exhortations for specific roles (3:18-4:1)

a. Wives (3:18)

b. Husbands (3:19)

c. Children (3:20)

d. Fathers (3:21)

e. Slaves (3:22)

• Obedience (3:22)

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work heartily

whatever you do,

as for the Lord and not for men,

knowing that

from the Lord

you will receive the inheritance

as your reward.

You are serving the Lord Christ.

For

the wrongdoer will be paid back

for the wrong he has done,

and

there is no partiality.

Masters, treat your slaves

justly

and

fairly

knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Continue steadfastly in prayer,

being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

At the same time,

pray also for us,

that God may open to us a door for the word,

to declare the mystery of Christ,

on account of which I am in prison –

that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

3:23

3:24

3:25

4:1

4:2

4:3

4:4

• Attitude (3:23-25)

f. Masters (4:1)

3. Final Instructions to the local body (4:2-6)

a. Call to prayer (4:2-4)

• For themselves (4:2)

• For Paul and the gospel (4:3-4)

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Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders,

making the best use of the time.

4:5

Let your speech always be gracious,

seasoned with salt,

so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

4:6

Tychicus will tell you

They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

all about my activities.

He is a

beloved brother

and

faithful minister

and

fellow servant

in the Lord.

I have sent him to you

for this very purpose,

that you may know how we are

and

that he may encourage your heart,

and with him

Onesimus,

our

faithful

and

beloved

brother,

who is one of you.

4:7

4:8

4:9

b. Conduct towards unbelievers (4:5-6)

V. Paul's final greetings and instructions (4:7-18)

1. Paul informs the church of two visitors he has sent to them (4:7-9)

A. Tychicus (4:7-8)

B. Onesimus (4:9)

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Aristarchus

they have been a comfort to me.

my fellow prisoner

These are the only men

greets you

and

Mark

the cousin of Barnabas

(concerning whom you have received instructions –

if he comes to you,

welcome him),

and

Jesus

who is called Justus.

of the circumcision

among my fellow workers

for the kingdom of God,

and

4:10

4:11

2. Paul passes on greetings from his fellow prisoners and workers (4:10-14)

A. Jews (4:10-11)

1. Aristarchus (4:10)

2. Mark (4:10)

2. Jesus (Justus)(4:11)

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Epaphras

who is one of you

greets you

always struggling

on your behalf

in his prayers,

he has worked hard

a servant of Christ Jesus,

that you may stand

mature

and

fully assured

in all the will of God.

For

I bear him witness

thatfor you

and

for those

in Laodicea

and

in Hierapolis.

4:12

4:13

Luke

the beloved physician

greets you

as does

Demas

4:14

B. Gentiles (4:12-14)

1. Epaphrus (4:12-13)

2. Luke (4:14)

3. Demas (4:14)

21

B. Message to Archippus(4:17)

4:15

and

Give my greetings

to the brothers at Laodicea,

Nympha

and

the church in her house.

to

And

when this letter has been read among you,

have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans;

and

see that

you also read the letter from Laodicea.

4:16

say to Archippus,

"See that you fulfill the ministry

that you have received in the Lord."

4:17 And

I, Paul, write this greeting

with my own hand.

Remember my chains.

Grace be with you.

3. Paul asks the church to greet others on his behalf (4:15)

A. Brothers at Laodicea

B. Nympha and the church in her house

4. Paul's special instructions to the Colossian church (4:16-17)

A. Exchange letters with the Laodiceans (4:16)

5. Paul's closing greeting (4:18)

4:18